Thread-cutter for sewing-machines.



, C. H. FOSTER.

THREAD CUTTER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

ALMPPLICATION FILED JAN. ze, 1903.

Patented. $311.5, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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l www G. H. FOSTER.

THREAD GUTTER POR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIGATIONFILBD JAN. 26, 1903.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

5 SHEETS-BHEET 2.

CHAIN TO FOOT TREHDLE E. E. POSTER.

TEEEAD CUTTER EOE SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26. 1903.

Patented. Jan. 5, 915.

5 SHETS-SHEET 3.

C'. H. POSTER.

THREAD CUTTER POR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26, 1903. LWBJML Patented Jan. 5,1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

.I l l l l Il I C. H. FOSTER.

THREAD GUTTER IoR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED'IAN. ze. 190s.

' Patented Jan. 5,' 1915.

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.parar ortica CHARLES H. FOSTER, 0F KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOUNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0FILLINOIS.

THREAD-CUTTER FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

ricami.

application fried January as, 1903.v serial No. 140,647.

Toalt whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. FOSTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kankakee, in the county of Kankakee, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Thread-Cutters forSewing-Machines, of which the following is a description, referencebeing had ,to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters and liguresof reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvementsin sewing apparatus, andparticularly to apparatus for handling and sewing filled bags, and theobject of the present invention is to provide a cutting arrangement forcutting off the chain of stitches between the bags, which can be throwninto and out of operation by the operator, but the actual cutting andreturning action of which shall be auto-` matic.

The machine shown in the drawings is of the general' type illustrated inmy Patent, 875,339, granted December 31, 1907, and also containsfeatures shown and described in my prior Patent 875,513, grantedDecember 31, 1907.

An object of the invention is to provide a cutting device for severingthe chain of stitches between stitched articles, which cutting device isoperatedy by a continuously running member with connections between thesame, and the cutter adapted to be manually controlled, whereby thecutter may be mechanically operate-d at any time at the will of theoperator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a .device of the abovecharacter wherein the cutter may be operated to cut the stitches betweenstitched articles without stopping the action of the stitchingmechanism.

'll`hese` and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part behereinafter more fully disclosed.

'Ihe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation of somuch of an apparatus of the typereferred to, as is necessary to a complete understanding of myinvention; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the preferred form of myinvention which embodies the features of the form shown in Fig. 1, butincludes certain additional features; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portionof the apparatus shown in Fig. 2; Fig. t is a Specication of LettersPatent.

. 11 to the machine frame.

Patented l an. a, 1015..

front elevation of the bracket to -Wbichthe Y* machine is secured; Fig.5 is a. sectional plan view of aV portion of Fig. 3, and illllustrat-111g particularly the rod or pin for olding the lever out of engagementwith thecontinuously' running crank pin; Fig. 6 is a detail perspectiveview showing .the sewing head with the cutter attached thereto.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly at first to Fig. 1, Arepresents the sew- 111g machine, and'2 a pulley upon the shaft 3, journaled in bearings upon the bracket B, which `supports the sewingmachine. The sewingvmachine is of the usual construction and comprises abed plate 50, an overhanging arm 51 in which vibrates a needle bar 52carrying a needle 53. Upon this shaft 3 is fastened a disk 4, providedwith a projecting pin 5, the shaft and disk being, of course,continuously operated from the constantly running part of the powertransnittsr, (not shown), which is belted to pul- So far as the cutteritself is concerned, the arrangement is substantially the same as shownin my prior Patent 875,512, granted December 31, 1907, in which apivoted lever 6, is adapted to engage the head of the knife supportingshafts, and press Vthe knife G down against an anvil 7 supported uponthe lower end of the cylindrical bed plate of the sewing machine. Fromthe upper end of the lever 6, which is pivoted in the goose neck, thereprojects horizontally a bar 8, which at its inner end passes through theupper end of a vertical lever 10 pivoted at A head on the inner end ofthe'rod or link 8, prevents said bar from being withdrawn through thevertical lever 10, and the seat for said bar 8 is formed, as shown insection in Fig. 2, to allow for movement of said vertical lever, on itspivot.

The upper end of the vertical lever is normally pressed outwardly bymeans of the spring 12, the tension of which is regulated by the collara, and the spring also acts to cushion the shock of the forward movementof the lever 10 after the cutting blow has been struck. Said verticallever 10 at its lower end is pivoted to a horizontal lever 13, which hasa downward y projecting part 14, to which is attached aspiring 15,normally adapted to retain the same in the position shown in the righthand dotted lines. rlhis horizontal lever is provided at its outer endwith a hardened steel piece b, (shown in Fig. 2), having a notch c,normally' adapted to engage the pin 5 on the disk 4, and ,beyond theprojection forming the notch it slants upwardly and is adapted to bebrought into engagement with a roller 16 on the bracket 17, whereby, asthe end of the horizontal lever is moved outwardly by the pin 5, it isswung on its pivot, and when the blow of the knife has been struck, istripped out of engagement with the pin 5.

At its forward end, the horizontal lever is adapted to be engaged by apin 20, which is tripped by the bell crank lever. 21, journaled on thebracket B. When the -bell crank lever is moved to draw back the pin 20,the left hand end of the horizontal lever 13, -through the action of thelower spring 15 is forced. downwardly, so that its notch c engages thepin 5, said horizontal lever be ing drawn rearwardly, carrying also thelower end of the vertical lever 10, thus forclea ing the upper end ofthe verticallever forward against the pressure of the spring 12, andcausing the knife to operate to cut the chain of stitches. After theknife has been actuated through the movement of the bar 13 by itsconnection with the pin 5, and released therefrom, the springs 12 and 15quickly return the knife to normally raised position and return also thebar 13 to the full line position shown in Fig. 1. The roller has lforcedup the outer end of the lever 13 and the pin 2() which has been releasedengages the upper surface of the lever and holds the same out of contactwith the pin 5.

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, represent a somewhat modified and preferable formof my invention.- In these figures, the form of the lever 13 is slightlydifferent, and the arm 14 extends downwardly from the end thereof, thetop of the lever being beveled, as shown at e. The spring 15 is alsodifferently attached, as shown. p

,A spring plunger 22, bearing in lugs 23 on the bracket, is set to havea limited movement by the jam nuts 24 and 25, and on the return of thelever 10, after the blow has been struck, the shock is taken up by thisspring plunger, which acts as a stop for the lever 10.

l Instead of the tripping mechanism shown in Fig. 1, a rod or pin 2 6extending to the right hand side of the machine is provided, which isnormally pressed outwardly by the spring 27 to engage the lever 13 andhold it out of engagement .with thel continuously running crank pin.When this rod or pin 26 is withdrawn, the cutting operation takes place,and the springing back of the pin 26 to normal position restores theparts to inoperative position. This rod or pin, is controlled by theoperator through the medium of a pivoted lever 28, carrying on its innerend a pivoted spring dog 29, which, when the lever 28 attached to therod 290 on the bracket 30, is swung to the left against the pressure ofspring 31, bearing against the collar 32 on the rod 290, forces the sameto the right far enough t0 release lever 13. In this position the springdog 29 slips by the .collar 40 and allows the pin 26 to be imme- 'toprevent a second and perhaps a third engagement, which would chop andmangle the chain.

The rod 290 is provided near its left hand end with a handle 33, so thatthe operator may trip the mechanism either with the right hand bymanipulation of lever 28, or by manipulation of rod 290 with the lefthand. Furthermore, a chainvleading over a pulley 34 may be attached tothe lever 28 at one end, and at the other end to a foot treadle, so thatthe tripping lever may be operated by the foot of the operator, leavingboth hands free to manipulate the bag.

It will be understood that various minor modifications and changes maybe made, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An apparatus for sewing and cutting the connecting threads betweenstitched articles including in combination sewing inechanism,vmeans forfeeding the articles to be sewed thereto, a cutting device in rear ofthe sewing mechanism and operating across the line of feed to sever thestitching threads, and means for operating said cutting device withoutstopping the sewing mechanism including a continuously moving memberwith connections between the same and the cutting device, and manuallyconsewing mechanism and operating across the line of feed to sever thestitching threads yielding means for normally holding said niaarai ngi,

cutting device raised, a continuously moving device, a member connectedwith said cutting device and adapted to engage said continuously movingdevice for moving the cutting device to sever the threads, and manuallycontrolled means for holding said member out of engagement with saidcontinuously moving device, said continuously movmg device beingindependent of the im- 2o means for holding the lever out of engagementwith the continuously moving member; substantially as described.

4l. ln an apparatus for sewing filled bags and cutting the threadsbetween the bags, a

sewing mechanism and a cutting device, a

continuously moving member, a lever normally adapted to be engaged bythe continuously moving member, connections between the lever and the.cutting device,

' 30 means for holding the lever out of engagement with the continuouslymoving member, and means for tripping the lever to cause it to beengaged by the continuously moving member; substantially as described.5. ln an apparatus for feeding and sewing filled bags, and severing thestitches between successive bags, the combination with a sewingmechanism, a feeding device for the bags, and a cutting device andacontin- 40 uously moving member, a swinging level' normally adapted tobe engaged by the continuously moving member, devices for holding thelever out of engagement with the continuouslyl moving member, means fortripping the same, and connections between the lever and the cuttingdevice, whereby when the holding4 devices are tripped the cutting deviceis operated; substantially as described.

5o 6. In an apparatus for feeding and sewing filled bags, and severingthe stitches between successive bags, the combination with a sewingmechanism, a feeding device for the bags, and a cutting device and aconti-nuously moving member, a swinging lever normally adapted to beengaged by the continuously moving member, devices for holding the leverout of engagement with the continuously moving member, means 'for eotripping the same, and connections between the lever and the cuttingdevice, whereby when the holding devices are tripped the cutting deviceis operated, said connections including a vertical lever, and spring anden lever connections between said vertical leing filled bags, andsevering the stitches bever and .the cutter; substantially as described.

7. ln an apparatus for feeding and sewing filled bags, and severing thestitches between successive bags, the combination with a sewingmechanism, a feeding device for the bags, and a cutting device and acontinuously moving member, a swinging lever normally adapted to beengaged by the continuously moving member, devices for-holding the leverout of engagement with the continuously moving member, means fortripping the same, connections between the lever and the cutting device,whereby when the holding devices are tripped the cuttingA Se device isoperated, said connections including a vertical lever, andv spring andlever connections between said vertical lever and the cutter, and meansfor adjusting ythe spring; substantially as described.

8. ln an apparatus for feeding and sewing filled bags, and severing' thestitches between successive bags, the combination with a sewingmechanism, a feeding device for the bags, and a cutting device and acontin- 53 uously moving member, a swinging lever normally adapted to beengaged by the continuously moving member, devices for holding the leverout of engagement with the continuously moving member, means for vtripping the same, connections between the lever and the cutting device,whereby when the holding devices are tripped the cutting device isoperated, said connections including a vertical lever, connectionsbetween the same and the cutter, and a stop to limit the movement of thelevers when they have been released; substantially as described.

9. ln an apparatus for feeding and sewtween successive bags, thecombination with a sewing mechanism, a feeding device for the bags, anda cutting device and a continuously moving member, a swinging levernormally adapted to be engaged by the con'- J tinuously moving member,devices for holding the lever out of engagement with the continuouslymoving member, means for tripping the same, connections between thelever and the cutting device, whereby when the holding devices aretripped the cutting device is operated, said connections including avertical lever, connections between the same and the cutter, and acushioned stop` to limit the movement of the levers when .120 they havebeen released; substantially as described.

10. ln an apparatus for feeding and sewing filled bags, 'and severingthe stitches -betweensuccessive bags, the combination with a sewingmechanism, a feeding device for the bags, and a cutting device and acontinuously moving member, a swinging lever normally adapted to beengaged by the continuously moving member, devices for holdsie ing thelever out of engagement with the continuously moving `member, means fortripping the same, connections between the lever and the cutting device,whereby when the. holding devices are tripped the cutting device isoperated, said connections including a vertical lever, connectionsbetween the same and the cutter, and a cushioned stop tolimit themovement of the levers when they have been released, said cushioned stopcomprising a spring pressed plunger with A Vjam nuts for limiting itsmovement; subl stantially as described.

11. ln an apparatus for feeding and sewing lled bugs, and severing thestitchesbetween successive bags, the combination with a sewingmechanism, a feeding device for the bags, and a cutting device and acontinuously moving member, a lever normally adapted to be engaged bythe continuously moving member, a pin normally bearing against saidlever, to hold it out of engagementH with the continuously movin member,means for withdrawing said pm from engagement with the lever, andconnections between the' lever and the cutting device; lsubstantiallylas described.

12. In an apparatus for feeding and sewing filled bags, and severing-thestitches between. successive bags, the combinationwith' a sewingmechanism, a feeding device for the bags, and a cutting device and acontinuously moving member, a lever normally adapted to be engaged bythe continuously moving member, a pin normally bearing against saidlever, to hold it out of engage- A- ment with the continuously movingmember, meansv for withdrawing said pin from engagement with the lever,said means including a swinging lever, and means for operating it,'and ayielding spring dog adapted to engage the pin and move it in onedirection, but to yield under the pressure of the pin in the oppositedirection, when the swinging lever is retainedvin retracted position;substantially as described.

' 13. In an `apparatus for feeding and sewing filled bags, and severingthe stitches between successive bags, the combination with a sewingmechanism, a feeding device for the bags, Iand a cutting device and acontinuously moving member, a lever normally adapted 'to be engaged bythe continuously moving member, a pin normally bearing against saidlever, to hold it out of engagement with the continuously moving member,means for withdrawing said pin from engagement with the lever, a springfor automatieally returning said pin, and connections between the leverand the cutting device; substantially as described. y

14. VIn an a paratus 4for sewing filled sacks, the combination with asewin mechanism and means for feeding the sac s thereto, a cuttingdevicefor severing the chain 'of stitches, and means for operating thecutting device, including a continuously running crank, and connectionsbetween the same, and the cutter, and meansfor throwing the connectionsinto and out of action;

substantially as described.

15. In an apparatus for sewing filled bags, a sewing mechanism, andmeans for feeding the sacks, in combination with a cutter, acontinuously operating crank, a lever normally adapted to be engaged bythe crank,

and connections between the lever and the cutter, and means for holdingthe lever out of engagement with the crank; substantially as described.

16. In an apparatus for sewing filled bags, a sewing mechanism, andmeans for feeding the sacks, in combination with a cutter, acontinuously running disk having a pin thereon, a lever adapted toengage the pin, and be operated thereby to give the stroke to thecutter, means for holding the lever out of engagement with the pin, andmeans for automaticall releasing the lever from the pin as the ormermoves, and connections between the lever and the cutter; substantiallyas described.

Intestimony whereof I aiiix mysignature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. FOSTER.

` Witnesses Trios. E. BoNFmLD,

B. W. ALPINER.

